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Matsui's Slam Powers Rockies

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By ROB MAADDI, The Associated Press

Published: October 5, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - Done chasing that wild-card spot, Kaz Matsui and the relentless Colorado Rockies are playing like champs.

Matsui hit his first career grand slam and drove in five runs, leading the Rockies past the Philadelphia Phillies 10-5 Thursday for a 2-0 lead in their NL playoff series.

A day after taking a pitchers' duel, Colorado outslugged the Phils and got a big effort from its bullpen. With 16 victories in 17 games, the Rockies are winning every which way.

'We believe we're going to win every game,' Manager Clint Hurdle said. 'We've been playing in the losers' bracket for a month.'

Matsui connected off Kyle Lohse, rushed in to relieve struggling rookie Kyle Kendrick in the fourth inning.

Lohse was the Phillies' scheduled Game 4 starter. At this rate, the best-of-five series may not get that far.

Rookie Ubaldo Jimenez will try to pitch Colorado to a sweep Saturday at Coors Field against veteran Jamie Moyer.

Making just the second postseason appearance in the franchise's 15-year history, Colorado is on the verge of going to its first NL Championship Series. The Rockies posted their eighth straight road victory.

Matsui fell a single short of the cycle, and Troy Tulowitzki and Matt Holliday homered on consecutive pitches in the first inning off Kendrick, who got a quick hook from Manager Charlie Manuel.

Booed out of New York after 2 1/2 seasons with the Mets, Matsui is a perfect fit in calmer Colorado.

'I couldn't make good results in New York,' Matsui said through a translator. 'I'm glad I have a good environment and a good team in Colorado.'

The Phillies had a chance to make it interesting in the eighth, loading the bases with two outs. But closer Manny Corpas came in and retired Carlos Ruiz. Corpas worked around a pair of two-out singles in a scoreless ninth for his second save in as many days.

Before the game, Corpas came under scrutiny because he was caught by TBS cameras Wednesday pouring a liquid on the front of his jersey and patting his chest and rubbing his fingers before throwing a pitch. He didn't appear to do anything shady in this appearance.

Jimmy Rollins homered and drove in four runs, and Ryan Howard also went deep for Philadelphia, which ended a 14-year playoff drought by capturing the NL East title on the final day of the season.

But it's been downhill for the Phillies since they followed a wild celebration Sunday with a pep rally at City Hall the next day.

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